The quality of the writing is the chief criterion. We consider stories from anywhere, original or translations, but we consider it our mandate to encourage Atlantic Canadians and Canadian writers - but quality is always the chief criterion. We welcome new and young writers.

We respond to rejected submissions with suggestions when we can, particularly if we are asked to do so and particularly with new or young writers, and the closer the writer is to us geographically, Canadian, American, or other, the more trouble we take. Long stories may displace several shorter pieces, so the longer the story the higher its quality should be as there is less chance we will read it through and less chance we will respond with a critique.

Most stories that meet our minimum standard are read by at least 2 readers and all stories published are read and approved by at least 2 readers and a senior editor, therefore we may be a bit slow but we try to respond in 3 or 4 months. Some of our readers live far from Antigonish and as many as half the stories have to be shipped to them. So we ask your patience. We sometimes suggest revisions but if a writer sends back a revised version we feel no obligation to publish it; it has to compete with the new stories it arrives with. Please be patient with us. We read everything, sometimes four times, we have high quality help who get no pay and have to buy their own pencils so don't blame them if once in a while one of them snatches one of your coloured paper clips and if our comments sometimes seem cryptic, enigmatic, or even on the edge of something even worse, don't get cross at us - maybe we're tired, maybe we're grumpy, maybe we had to go out and buy a new pencil. But just the same we love to get your stuff.

PLEASE NOTE we do not accept submissions which have been previously published in any format.